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Three months after a massive power outage plunged the Iberian Peninsula into darkness, Portugal unveiled a €400 million plan Monday to fortify its electrical grid—and floated the possibility of connecting to Morocco’s power network.
Environment Minister Maria da Graça Carvalho announced 31 measures designed to prevent future blackouts, reassuring citizens that not all costs would hit their electricity bills. “Part of the financing will come from European funds,” she told reporters in Lisbon, acknowledging public concerns about rising energy costs.
The centerpiece involves expanding electricity storage through battery installations, with tenders expected by 2026. Another €25 million targets critical infrastructure like hospitals, ensuring they can maintain power during emergencies. Grid control systems will also undergo modernization to better manage the increasingly complex energy flows from renewable sources.
But it was the Morocco connection that raised eyebrows. Carvalho revealed that foreign ministers from both countries have initiated “very preliminary” discussions about linking their power grids. “We could consider connecting to existing projects. Starting from scratch would certainly be very costly,” she noted, suggesting a pragmatic approach to the ambitious cross-strait connection.
The June blackout that triggered these measures exposed vulnerabilities in Europe’s interconnected power systems. Spain announced similar grid reinforcement plans, focusing on renewable energy integration and enhanced supervision. For Portugal, which already shares electricity with Spain, a Moroccan link would create an unprecedented intercontinental power bridge.
Energy experts see potential benefits: Morocco’s growing renewable capacity could complement Portugal’s needs, while providing the North African nation another export route for its green energy ambitions. However, technical challenges of undersea cables across the Gibraltar Strait and regulatory harmonization between EU and non-EU systems remain formidable obstacles.
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